Peter Lim appears at NBI, claims innocence

MANILA, Philippines - Peter Lim, the Cebu-based businessman named by President Duterte as among the nation’s top drug lords, went to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) yesterday to clear his name.

“I am innocent,” was the only statement Lim gave to reporters as he got off his car and entered the NBI main office in Manila.

Lim was accompanied by his lawyer, Ramon Esguerra, during the meeting with NBI officials.

Esguerra said his client, in submitting himself before the NBI, showed good faith in following the presidential advice.

“(Being here was) based on his own decision pursuant to the instruction of the President to have himself investigated by the bureau,” Esguerra said in referring to Lim.

“The primordial reason why he voluntarily went here following the instruction of the President was to clear his name, that the Peter Lim that had been referred by the President is not the same person as my client,” he added.

Lim earlier had a meeting with Duterte in Davao City last week.

Lim denied before Duterte the allegations that he was a drug lord.

During the meeting that took place in the regional office of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Davao City, Duterte threatened to have Lim killed if proven he was a drug lord.

Duterte advised Lim to undergo investigation before the NBI in Manila.

Duterte named Lim as one of the drug lords protected by one of five police “narco-generals.”

Although there were perhaps thousands of Peter Lims, the businessman admitted he was was the same Peter Lim who faced a congressional investigation in 2001.

Lim and his brother Wellington were probed over allegations linking them to the drug trade in Cebu.

Bernard Liu and Ananias Dy, two employees of Lim-owned Hilton Heavy Equipment, testified against the brothers. Dy was shot dead in 2006 and Liu was found dead in 2011.

Esguerra said the congressional probe against the brothers was a formal investigation into the allegations that were not proven.

“We will wait for another investigation,” Esguerra said. “We will extend our utmost cooperation.”

Esguerra said Lim submitted a two-page letter addressed to NBI director Dante Gierran but refused to talk about its content.

Esguerra also declined to reveal what happened during the meeting with the NBI officials.

NBI spokesman Ferdinand Lavin said a team led by Juan Roel Bolivar would investigate Lim.

“(Lim) appeared before the NBI... in connection with some clarificatory questions on the issue of his involvement in illegal drugs,” he said.

He noted Lim expressed willingness to submit to investigation and questioning.

As this developed, the police Special Action Force (SAF) detailed to guard the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) will closely monitor the activities of detained drug lords, particularly those at Building 14.

SAF spokesperson Senior Inspector Jonalyn Malnat said a sufficient number of SAF commandos are deployed at Building 14, which was newly renovated and housing 19 inmates, mostly drug lords.

“The primary duties of the SAF commandos is security aspect at the NBP, specifically at the maximum security,” Malnat said.

“The deployment of SAF in NBP is basically to support the BuCor (Bureau of Corrections) in terms of security aspect and to stop illegal activities within NBP,” she said.

Aside from the SAF, Malnat said there were also components from other government agencies, including PDEA and the Philippine National Police.

Malnat said the SAF still observe the chain of command and report to their commander, Chief Supt. Benjamin Lusad. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe